Where do you see Matt Shaw fitting in next year?

30 comments

  3. The Cubs need a 3rd baseman who can handle the position defensively and be the strong bat on the left side of the infield. We’ve been without a solution at 3rd since we traded Bryant. Shaw is the solution at the extreme ceiling of his power projections. Excellent defense at 3rd that leaves Dansby to provide all of the power on the left side of the infield is leaving the team with a glaring weakness. Shaw as super utility player does so much for the rest of the roster construction that I’m not even sure how you don’t consider it the primary option until his bat establishes him as an everyday player.

  4. If they sign a marquee 3B, I could see him still making the team on the bench to back up the infield. However, I’d almost rather he play at Iowa every day to work on the bat and maybe build up position versatility defensively (e.g. 2B in case we don’t extend Nico)

    Defensively he’s off the charts but the bat needs development and I worry he won’t get that playing once a week and pinch hitting.

  5. His defense was stunning. He looked like a natural at the hot corner. I have a lot of thoughts about his batting role.

    I think in the end, what could be said is that Shaw fell into the same hot/cold streakiness as any big leaguer. It’s really a pattern for Cubbies, though. For a hot second, he was one of the best bats in the lineup. That much is true. I believe that Counsell never acted on that hot streak to maximize his contribution. Shaw never batted cleanup. Which is where we needed his XBH production the most.

    Then, he got pretty cold heading into the postseason, and we all saw how those games went. Pretty much a nonfactor.

    I still don’t really want Bregman. But at this point, I can’t say Shaw is the offensive answer we need.

  6. Honestly this is less about Matt Shaw being our third baseman and more about what isn’t even mentioned and that’s Hoerners future. He’s a free agent after 2026. An elite second baseman and the bat is all star level. He won’t be expensive but Shaw could easily fit into second base IF they were to get Bregman at third base and have Shaw be a super utility type for a year assuming Hoerner is gonna leave Chicago after 2026.

    I’m not at all saying this is a good idea but I can see this scenario unfolding considering how close Bregman was a Cub last offseason, along with Shaws ability to play multiple positions and potentially having more power at a position that currently doesn’t.

    And for the record, I want a Hoerner extension and retire a Cub.

  7. How about we wait for more than 1 season first? Ppl acting like he’s already reached his ceiling. Look at PCA last year, he struggled offensively. You can’t judge a player off of 1 year.

  8. > With Kyle Tucker expected to leave Chicago in free agency, the team will need more offensive firepower.

    Not to mention firepower that can actually come through when we need it, ‘cuz that wasn’t Tucker.

  9. Dudes about to start the season in AAA or be flipped for pitching once we sign a real hitter at 3rd.

  10. Providing Evan Massey with that “concerning outlook” is Joey Pollizze, who is a young no-name “reporter” who doesn’t specialize in baseball or the Cubs. He’s less informed than the average Cubs fan in this sub.

    Off-season media speculation (made for clicks) gets a reaction from a muckraking Twitter wannabe reporter, and then a Cubs blog “reports” on that ignorant opinion as if it’s fact, based in reality, or worth anything.

    And then people here react to all of it as if any of it is truth. Fucking hell.

  11. If we get Bregman or some other big 3b, he’s relegated to infield utility or Iowa. His baseurnning isn’t terrible so he can also be a late inning pinch runner

  12. What a crap report, especially the headline. I thought he had broken his leg. This is just doubling down on media-created rumors about Bregman.
    Evan Massey needs to find something else to write about.

  18. Bregman hasn’t sniffed a healthy season in years. Even if the Cubs sign him (fucking barf), Shaw will easily get 30+ starts at third, nevermind everywhere else he can play.

    If the Cubs don’t sign Hoerner, i honestly may be done. These fucks have gone full on enrichment mode, instead of putting the best team they can on the field. All while raising prices all over, and vacuuming up every dollar within a half mile of the stadium.

  20. Not on this team. Bye Shaw. We want players who won’t abandon the team during a postseason push to attend a racist piece of shits memorial.

  23. He wasnt terrible but I want an upgrade. He had some of hte lowest bat speed and exit velo in the game.

  24. Shaw will probably be the starting third baseman in 2026 and everyone should probably get used to it.

  25. What kind of stupid writing is this? It doesn’t address anything in a way that goes beyond a podcaster-tier guess. With Hoerner a FA after next season, Shaw could end up at 2B long-term. With Tucker gone, DH is open to move people around. Happ and Suzuki go to FA after 2026 too, so they could even look at Shaw as an OF. This team has very little stability in its long-term offense, and talking about one good veteran doesn’t mean much.

    Does the author also think the Zac Gallen rumor is a concerning outlook for Cade Horton’s spot in the rotation?

  26. Fuck Shaw. If he by some chance is on the 26 roster, we’ll use him like Turner. On games we need somebody to strikeout for whatever reason

  29. I don’t see how this is “concerning”. Backing up at both 3B and 2B while also likely being the 2B f Dansby gets hurt and Hoerner shifts over. Bregman will he 32 next year and need some days off and games where he DHs.

    This move gives the Cubs depth. Shaw will still get 400 at-bats and be the heir to either Nico or Bregman.

  30. I hate that off-season content is focused on rando sources about rumors that may or may not be manufactured.

    We don’t know. We shall see what happens is the simple truth.

Leave a Reply